Top lawyers’ bodies raise concerns over discrepancies in election procedures, CEC’s conduct

With elections a little over a month away, the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Pakistan Bar Council on Tuesday raised concerns over the poll procedure and conduct of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.

The top bodies representing the legal fraternity underscored the need for a level playing field and equal opportunities for all stakeholders in the upcoming polls on February 8.

According to a press statement, SCBA President Shahzad Shaukat and Secretary Syed Ali Imran expressed deep concern regarding “mounting discrepancies in election procedures, delimitations and seat allocation” during the 26th executive committee of the association today.

They have further raised “serious questions about the transparency of elections” under the incumbent CEC.

“They express concerns about the election commission’s competence in terms of rising discrepancies in the electoral process close to upcoming elections which raises valid doubts about jeopardising the fairness and impartiality of the electoral process,” the statement said.

It highlighted that the SCBA “asserts that elections are the cornerstone of the democratic process in the country and must be held on time”.

“Mere adherence to election timelines without addressing grievances may undermine stability rather than contribute to it,” the association said, adding the failure to address discrepancies in the electoral process earlier had not only harmed the country but also risked the failure of “achieving meaningful results”.

“Therefore, it is imperative to address these issues effectively to safeguard both the democratic process and national resources,” it pointed out.

“As such, SCBAP is of the view that such elections should be conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner, providing equal opportunities to all stakeholders.

“However, SCBAP believes that to achieve the aforesaid objectives, the present chief election commissioner should go home as under him, fair and impartial elections with equal opportunity for all, are not possible,” the statement concluded.

In a separate statement issued today, Pakistan Bar Council Chairman Hasan Raza Pasha and Vice Chairman Haroonur Rashid raised similar concerns and highlighted the growing perception that elections could not be conducted freely and fairly in the presence of CEC Raja.

“A glaring example is the matter of allocation of two National Assembly seats to the CEC’s own native District Jhelum,” they said, adding that a similar imbalance was also observed in the allocation of seats for Rawalpindi.

“It is evident that the conduct of the CEC raises serious doubts about the integrity of the general elections, presenting an environment that appears to lack transparency entirely,” the statement said.

“In the light of these circumstances, the PBC cannot turn a blind eye to these critical matters. They stress that the Supreme Court of Pakistan, as the highest constitutional court, must take notice of these discrepancies instead of endorsing every act of the CEC.

“The PBC firmly believes that the primary objective is not merely holding elections but conducting them in a free, fair and transparent manner, providing equal opportunities to all stakeholders,” it added.

The PBC further said that it would soon convene an all-Pakistan representative convention to formulate and announce a line of action in consultation with the SCBA.

“The aim is to ensure the cause of free, fair and transparent general elections which is not possible in the presence of incumbent CEC, as it seems, he has different codes for every political party or individual,” the statement concluded.

ECP rejects claims of seat allocation

In a press release issued later, the ECP rejected the PBC’s claims that CEC Raja increased the number of seats in his hometown.

The electoral body clarified that the chief election commissioner’s native constituency was NA-82 in the Sargodha district and no additional seat had been created there.

“The commission has expressed that it cannot allocate additional seats on the personal wishes of any individual,” the ECP said, adding that the watchdog would not be pressurised or blackmailed by anyone.

More to follow